Professor Les Iverson, Chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, told MP’s that criminalizing teenagers for possessing small amounts of banned substances such as Cannabis could jeopardize their chances in life. 

While addressing the Home Affairs Select Committee, he said “We would like to see less young people given criminal records because that has an impact on the rest of their lives in terms of getting a mortgage, getting a job, a college place etc.”

Prof Iverson appears to be realistic about the chances of drug policy reform in the UK. He went on to suggest swapping criminal punishments with civil punishments, such as obligatory drug education schemes, or even temporary driving bans. 

However, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has been keen to maintain the moral, rather than scientific approach to drug policy reform, responding to Prof Iverson’s suggestions by saying “I have a very tough view on drugs. That view is informed by people I speak to who have seen the damage the drugs have done to people in their family”.